The high-impact nature of this activity puts runners at risk for a variety of injuries. These injuries can occur either due to overuse (cumulative) or due to a sudden impact (acute). Our orthopedic surgeons and specialists, athletic trainers, and physical and occupational therapists at Houston Methodist offer world-class diagnoses and treatments to help everyone from student athletes to weekend warriors and elite professionals overcome their injury and get back to running.

Common Running Injuries

Hip or thigh:

Bursitis

Iliotibial (IT) band syndrome (inflammation of the tendon that runs along the outside of the upper thigh)

Snapping hip syndrome (a ‘snapping’ noise and sensation when the hip is flexed and extended)

Stress fractures

Knee:

Cartilage injuries

Kneecap dislocation

Meniscal tears

Patellofemoral syndrome (a thinning and softening of the shock-absorbing cartilage under the kneecap)

Plica syndrome (inflammation of the plica, a fold in the lining of the knee joint)

Foot or ankle:

Achilles tendonitis

Ankle sprains

Plantar fasciitis (heel pain due to inflammation of the thick ligament of the base of the foot)

Running Safety and Injury Prevention Tips

If you are just starting, plan a progressive running program to avoid overuse injuries.

Perform a five-minute warm up (walking or another low-impact activity) before every run, and always remember to stretch before and after your run.

Select a running shoe with good stabilization and shock-absorbing features, and replace your shoes every 250 to 500 miles.

Avoid running on concrete if possible, as its hardness causes more shock to the joints; asphalt is better, and dirt or grass is best.

Trust our team of sports injury specialists at Houston Methodist to remove you from the injured list and provide you with the knowledge to prevent future injuries.